Manufacturers are now producing high quality goods. They are good because they are not mass produced for world consumption

Whip out the plastic at:
Liberty, Great Marlborough Street, London, [phone]; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m.
London's most fashion forward market: Dover Street Market, 17-17 Dover St., London W1S 4LT; [phone]; open Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m.

2. Tokyo

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Tokyo's historic Ameya Yokocho market is crammed full with more than 500 shops selling everything from food to sneakers. Video by Black Buddha.
Getting around: 8 Value: 8 Variety: 9 Experience: 9 Total: 34
The ultimate Tokyo shopping experience is the department store. Walk into one and you'll be met like a royal.
Global chain Isetan has its mammoth flagship store in Shinjuku, eight separate buildings stretched along two blocks. Isetan has English, Chinese and Korean-speaking staff and a personalized interpretation service, as well as shopping consultants who will advise you on everything from shoes to fish, all available through reservation ([phone]).
A foodie heaven, the basement has dainty Japanese bento boxes as well as French pastries and macaroons. When shopping for clothes you can take a break from the international luxury brands on stock to try on some kimonos.
Tokyo's shopping is also surprisingly affordable, according to the Globe Shopper City Index, with Asia's fourth-cheapest shopping, and the cheapest average price for a Canon EOS 600D body.
Read: Best Tokyo shopping streets
All this too tame? No worries, Tokyo still gets its freak on. Shops like the seven-story M's: Pop Life Sex Department Store sell creative toys such as you've never seen and we prefer not to describe in front of our impressionable interns.
Whip out the plastic at:
Comme des Garçons, 5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; [phone]; open daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
M's: Pop Life Sex Department Store, 1-15-13 Soukanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,; [phone]; open daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Isetan Shijuku flagship, 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; [phone]; open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.